Notes + Questions: Persecution
INTRODUCTION:
King Jesus has come:
• Foretold by the Prophets
• Announced by Angels
• Worshipped by kings
King Jesus has authority:
• Over Religion
• Over Tradition
• Over Sickness
• Over the Natural
• Over the Supernatural
• Over Life & Death
King Jesus sends messengers:
• To proclaim the kingdom
• To heal the sick
• To stand against death
• To invite the despised, helpless and broken
King Jesus will be rejected:
• Blasphemer
• Beelzebul
• Crucify him
SHEEP AMONG WOLVES:
Who are the wolves?
• beware of men…
How do they operate?
• Religion (v.17)
• Government (v.18)
• Family (v.21)
Why do they hate you? (v.18; 22; 25)
• for my name’s sake
THE HATRED OF THE WORLD:
• There is a God and it is not you.
• There is a standard and you do not meet it.
• There is truth and you don’t get to define it.
• There is a King and you must bow to him.
WORLDWIDE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS:
• Jewish Persecution
• Roman Persecution
• Mohammed 7th Century
• Ottoman Empire 16th Century
• French Revolution
• Chinese Government - 17th Century
• Imperial Japan
• Russian Revolution
• Mao
• Stalin
• 70 million Christians killed for their faith since AD 33
• 35 million Christians murdered in the 20th Century
• 1.6 million Christians murdered from 2001 to 2010
• 900,000 Christians murdered from 2011-2020
2019
• 2983 Christians killed for their faith
• 3711 imprisoned without trial
• 9488 churches attacked
2022
• 5621 murdered
• 4542 imprisoned without trial
• 2110 churches attacked
Today Christians are the most persecuted group of people on the planet!
260 million live in countries where persecution is normal
5 Most Hostile Countries in the World:
• North Korea
• Afghanistan
• Somalia
• Lybia
• Pakistan
PERSECUTION IN ETHIOPIA:
WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
• Be wise
• Be innocent
• Be watchful
• Be trusting
• Persevere
• Flee
• PRAY
CG Questions:
1. What were your takeaways from the sermon?
2. What is Jesus’ advice to disciples in a hostile world?
3. How did the teaching on persecution strike you?
4. Have you experienced persecution for the sake of Jesus?
5. Pray
• for each other - for boldness
• for the persecuted church